Great Route, G8 Branch.
Jonathan stood at the base entrance, awaiting Sakarski's return.
He looked at the rows of petrified statues and shook his head, saying to Sakarski as he disembarked,
"So it was a failure."
"That woman..."
Sakarski let out a light snort,
"It was half a success."
"You can store these statues for now."
"Once I turn that guy into a weapon, these soldiers will be revived."
Jonathan looked puzzled,
"Turned into? A weapon?"
Sakarski stretched his neck,
"That guy turned me into a vegetable."
"Send him to the Navy's research division. Once the Pacifista project is successful,"
"We'll turn him into a robot, and the soldiers will naturally be revived."
Jonathan gasped,
"Hiss—"
"It can be done like this?"
"And what about the Shichibukai appointment?"
Sakarski said,
"It's been granted to the entire country."
"They've been given three years to prepare."
"Three years from now, a defense line will be established at the edge of the Calm Belt."
"To raid passing pirates. If they can't do it, they die."
"It's that simple."
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Jonathan's forehead,
"You're quite something... this plan."
Sakarski chuckled lightly,
"Alright, quickly arrange for people to unload these statues."
"I need to leave immediately."
"Without professional equipment to sustain him, it's best to send that guy to Punk Hazard quickly."
"Don't let him die on the way."
Jonathan dared not delay, as it concerned the lives of these petrified soldiers.
"Quick! Quick! Quick!"
"Speed it up!!!"
"Finish moving them quickly!!!"
Soldiers began to pour out of the base, joining the hauling crew.
Jonathan sighed,
"There's nothing we can do. I had Jessica prepare a feast."
"I'll have to treat you next time."
Sakarski smiled faintly,
"There will be plenty of opportunities. No need to rush."
The thousand-plus statues were quickly cleared by hundreds of soldiers.
Sakarski walked towards the warship, waving goodbye to Jonathan with his back turned,
"I'm off."
-------
Several days later.
The first half of the Grand Line.
The Calm Belt, Nine Snake Island.
Six warships sailed towards the port.
Elder Nyon, leading a group of young Hime-Kishidans, awaited their arrival.
On the warship.
A captain approached the figure sleeping soundly on a lounge chair,
"Vice Admiral Kuzan, we've arrived."
Two seconds later, Kuzan stirred groggily,
"Ah— we're here."
"Then unload the supplies."
"Hand them over."
He slowly climbed out of the lounge chair, yawning, and walked to the railing.
He looked at the Amazon Lily warriors diligently unloading supplies and equipment.
He perked up a bit, remarking with some surprise,
"So many beautiful ladies."
"Amazon Lily, huh."
"What a wonderful place."
He leaned against the railing, admiring the scene for a while, when he suddenly felt something,
"Hmm?"
"What is that?"
Shwoop!
He leaped into the air and gazed into the distance.
Not only could he see, but he could also sense numerous Sea Kings rushing towards them,
"A-la-la."
"So many Sea Kings. If they all charge, it will be troublesome."
"Really..."
He extended his arms forward, his palms compressing rapidly swirling cold air, aimed at the far distance:
"Ice Age"
Two streams of frigid air shot into the distance, freezing into two infinitely extending ice pillars in the air, reaching to the distant sea surface.
An iceberg immediately formed on the sea, continuously expanding.
It stopped after growing to nearly the size of Nine Snake Island, and the Sea Kings, upon hitting this massive iceberg, chose to detour.
Frost fell from Kuzan's entire body.
"Hoo—"
He exhaled a breath of cold air and stood by the railing, looking down at Elder Nyon,
"Tell me... Madam."
"Are Sea King attacks this frequent?"
He had already encountered several waves on the way here, which was why Kuzan was a little curious.
Elder Nyon, still astonished by the strength of a Navy Vice Admiral, paused upon hearing the question and quickly replied,
"No, Admiral."
"It's only been like this since this morning. I've lived on Nine Snake Island for many years,"
"And this is the first time I've seen such a continuous swarm of Sea Kings."
Kuzan nodded, looking in the direction of the incoming threat,
"Is that so..."
-------
The previous day, at night.
The first half of the Grand Line.
Elegia, the Kingdom of Music, located at the edge of the Calm Belt.
A grand banquet was in progress.
Musicians from all over the world were exchanging their sheet music.
Laughter and joy filled the entire royal palace hall.
Uta felt as if she had stepped into a dream, surrounded by beautiful singing and music everywhere.
She unconsciously began to sing.
However, no one noticed that... deep within the island's ruins.
The moment Uta's singing began... countless streams of light illuminated within the ruins.
A tattered piece of sheet music, propelled by an unknown force, rushed out of the ruins.
Following the castle's pipes... it somehow appeared on a sofa in the banquet hall.
The moment the tattered sheet music appeared, Uta, as if sensing something, looked in that direction.
She walked over and picked up the music sheet,
"Tot Musica?"
Uta was somewhat puzzled by the meaning of this song title.
But after a glance, she felt it was a good tune and began to sing along with the sheet music...
The moment she opened her mouth, a surge of red light exploded, sweeping across the entire island.
King Gordon seemed to recall something, his face filled with terror.
Shanks, meanwhile, braced himself against the erupting red light, trying desperately to see what was happening inside,
"Uta!!!!"
Rumble—
Countless people were sent flying. Moments later, the entire palace was engulfed in flames.
The surrounding seawater churned restlessly, and countless fish began to flee the area.
A giant demon wearing a mask resembling a clown.
The 'Demon of Song' from the ancient legends of the Kingdom of Music had appeared.
Everything on its body was composed of musical instruments. Ordinary, yet immensely powerful.
Lightning and fire instantly ignited the entire island.
As if divine punishment, an energy pillar accompanied by lightning erupted from the Demon of Song's mouth, sweeping across the island in an instant.
In just a few seconds.
The astonished Red Hair Pirates were thrown into disarray.
The entire country, except for King Gordon, who was with the Red Hair Pirates,
All residents perished at the hands of the Demon of Song, and all buildings were reduced to ruins.
King Gordon shouted with all his might at the Demon of Song,
"Uta!"
"Stop it!!"
"Don't let it control you!!!!"
But it was in vain. The Demon of Song's attention was even drawn to him.
Benk Bench and Bendy Snake rushed out from behind Gordon, one on each side,
"Get out of the way!"
Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew from the Demon of Song's chest, having no effect, but it was momentarily blocked...
Shanks suddenly appeared in mid-air, and the two dodged.
An astonishing Conqueror's Haki swept out, and Shanks' Griffon, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, swung towards the Demon of Song.
Screech—
BOOM!!!!
A massive sword energy pierced through its body. The Demon of Song's form exploded and twisted uncontrollably.
Just as it was about to dissipate, a ferocious demon phantom suddenly shot out from within, letting out a howl before vanishing completely.
Uta's figure appeared, falling.
-----
Gordon sat dumbfounded, staring at the inferno. Shanks approached him,
"I'm sorry..."
Gordon shook his head,
"Tell the Navy it's my fault."
"It's me, this king..."
On the distant sea, several warships were rapidly approaching.
Shanks disagreed,
"No, it's our fault."
"I want to leave Uta here,"
"Tell Uta for me, her singing is the best..."
"We're being chased by the Navy."
"Help me raise Uta to be the best singer."
"Don't tell her the truth..."
"In short... singing is not a sin."